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adding USB ports, PCI vs Hub
Hi,
I am wondering : * what is best ? : adding USB ports by using an external hub or by adding a PCI card with additional USB ports. * Will USB ports on an additional PCI card have the same speed and behavior as the ones that come directly from the motherboard ? Thanks, Ken |
#2
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On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 14:59:39 +0200, "Ken Verdrom"
wrote: Hi, I am wondering : * what is best ? : adding USB ports by using an external hub or by adding a PCI card with additional USB ports. Depends what you have now, and if you can spare a PCI slot. * Will USB ports on an additional PCI card have the same speed and behavior as the ones that come directly from the motherboard ? The new card will have the speed of the chipset on it, regrardless of the speed of the motherboard USB. Thanks, Ken |
#3
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Ken Verdrom wrote:
Hi, I am wondering : * what is best ? : adding USB ports by using an external hub or by adding a PCI card with additional USB ports. Isn't a USB hub just a splitter for a single port, so the bandwidth of that port is divided by the number of devices on it (or worse, reduced to usb1.1 if even one attached device is usb1.1)? I'd go with a usb2.0 pci card. * Will USB ports on an additional PCI card have the same speed and behavior as the ones that come directly from the motherboard ? That really depends on what version usb ports are on your motherboard! If they're the same version, the speed should be equivalent. Thanks, Ken -- remove the underscores to unmung the email address... |
#4
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if you go with a hub get one that is EXternally powered(has a
powerconverter(wallwart) "Ken Verdrom" wrote in message i.nl... Hi, I am wondering : * what is best ? : adding USB ports by using an external hub or by adding a PCI card with additional USB ports. * Will USB ports on an additional PCI card have the same speed and behavior as the ones that come directly from the motherboard ? Thanks, Ken |
#5
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"Ken Verdrom" wrote in message
i.nl... Hi, I am wondering : * what is best ? : adding USB ports by using an external hub or by adding a PCI card with additional USB ports. * Will USB ports on an additional PCI card have the same speed and behavior as the ones that come directly from the motherboard ? Thanks, Ken Have you checked to see if you have a front USB header on the motherboard? Most do so could add two ports at the front - using something like the Easy USB 5 1/4 bay adaptor from Antec if your case does not have front sockets. Cheaper than a PCI card or hub. |
#6
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On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 14:59:39 +0200, "Ken Verdrom"
wrote: Hi, I am wondering : * what is best ? : adding USB ports by using an external hub or by adding a PCI card with additional USB ports. Depends on what you want. If the objective is to get a bit more power output from the ports or to get better port access, a powered USB hub might be a better choice. If the objective is to get access to faster ports (ie. your system has only USB 1.1 ports, but you need USB 2.0 ports) the PCI card is a better choice. I guess that's the answer to your second question... * Will USB ports on an additional PCI card have the same speed and behavior as the ones that come directly from the motherboard ? Depends on the card. The controller on the expansion card is separate from what's on the system. One won't affect the other. If your system is USB 1.1, and you add in a USB 2.0 controller card, the ports coming off the new card are going to be USB 2.0. The old ones are still 1.1. Likewise, if you have a system with USB 2.0 ports, and go with an expansion card with a USB 1.1 controller, the ports off the new card will obviously be 1.1, and your original ports will still be 2.0. Re-reading that, I probably could have made that clearer... --------------------------------------------- MCheu |
#7
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I have found some devices will not run on a USB Hub...The biggest
culprit has been my usb thumb drive.. |
#8
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Another thought:
My MB has USB 1.1 ports, some to the front of the case. I added a PCI card that gave me USB 2.0 -and- Firewire for a new external HD. I also changed the front of case ports to 2.0 from the new card. Ken Verdrom wrote: Hi, I am wondering : * what is best ? : adding USB ports by using an external hub or by adding a PCI card with additional USB ports. * Will USB ports on an additional PCI card have the same speed and behavior as the ones that come directly from the motherboard ? Thanks, Ken |
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